Fine structure of the mandibular gland in crest-tailed marsupial-rat (Dasyuroides byrnei).
The mandibular glands of Dasyuroides byrnei were examined by light microscopy, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The secretory units consisted of numerous seromucous acini and a few seromucous demilunes. The seromucous acini were almost always capped by demilunes. The acinar seromucous cells contained faintly basophilic, light, coarse, bipatite secretory granules with matrix of low and moderate densities. The demilunar cells were dark compared with acinar seromucous cells and contained acidophilic secretory granules with a fibrillogranular matrix of moderate density. Preacinar cells with a seromucous nature were occasionally present at the junction between the acinus and intercalated duct. These cells had numerous basophilic granules, which were similar to those of acinar seromucous cells. The intercalated ducts consisted of simple cuboidal light cells that had a few small electron-dense granules. The striated ducts were composed of tall columnar light cells containing numerous vesicles, but no secretory granules. The mandibular acini of D. byrnei were composed of two cell types having a seromucous nature, unlike those of the opossum and many other mammals.
Suzuki
S
S
Institute of Experimental Animals, Shimane Medical University, Japan.
Nishida
T
T
Matsuzaki
T
T
Nishinakagawa
H
H
Otsuka
J
J
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008394:Marsupialia; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000648:ultrastructure*